Additive Manufacturing
Royce at the University of Sheffield offers a wide range of state-of-the-art additive manufacturing (AM) equipment, hosting open source software with full instrumentation and complete control of the manufacturing process, which are therefore able to optimise for new alloys.
Additive Manufacturing technologies developed through Royce at the University of Sheffield hold the potential to displace existing technologies with reduced material waste and increased part complexity.
OUR EQUIPMENT:
| Aconity3D | AconityLAB |
| Aconity3D | AconityMINI |
| Arcam | Q10 plus |
| Arcam | Q20 plus |
| BeAM | Magic 800 |
| Desktop Metal | Studio SystemTM |
ACONITY3D - ACONITY LAB
3D metal printing using laser beam technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
AconityLAB uses a laser beam to selectively melt an area of metal powder based on a 3D model of a component, then repeating it layer-by-layer until the final geometry is obtained. The machine is unique in that it is reconfigurable, both in terms of software and hardware. This enables the user to have complete freedom, and control, over the various processing parameters they can use, as well as the ability to change the machine components.
The AconityLAB is a truly modifiable lab system which can either be equipped with process monitoring tools, vacuum option, or high-temperature preheating up to 1200°C. Its build volume is Ø 170mm x H 200mm.
DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS
BUILD SPACE: Ø 170mm x H 200mm
LASER CONFIGURATION: Single Mode 400 W / 1000 W
OPTICS CONFIGURATION/SPOT SIZE: F-Theta / 80μm / 3D scanning / 80 - 500 μm
PROCESS MONITORING OPTIONS: Coaxial pyrometer / Coaxial high speed CMOS
PREHEATING TEMP/BUILD SPACE: 500°C / Ø 170 mm x H 150 mm, 800°C / Ø 100 mm x H 150 mm, 1200°C / Ø 70 mm x H 150 mm
LAYER THICKNESS: Down to 10 μm
MAX SCAN SPEED: 4 m/s
LOCATION
Royce Discovery Centre, Harry Brearley Building, 5 Portobello Street, Sheffield, S1 4ND
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ACONITY 3D - ACONITY MINI
3D metal printing using laser beam technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
AconityMINI uses a laser beam to selectively melt an area of metal powder based on a 3D model of a component, then repeating it layer-by-layer until the final geometry is obtained. The machine is unique in that it is reconfigurable, both in terms of software and hardware. This enables the user to have complete freedom and control over the various processing parameters they can use, as well as the ability to change the machine components.
The AconityMINI is an entry-level laboratory system with a build volume of Ø 140mm x H 200mm and is designed for efficient materials research. It can be equipped with a preheating device, process monitoring or changed laser configuration.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION
BUILD SPACE: Ø 140mm x H 190mm, Ø 55mm x H 190mm
LASER CONFIGURATION: Single Mode 200 W / 400 W
OPTICS CONFIGURATION/SPOT SIZE: F-Theta / 30 - 50μm / 3D scanning / 80 - 500 μm
PROCESS MONITORING OPTIONS: Coaxial pyrometer / Coaxial high speed CMOS
PREHEATING TEMP/BUILD SIZE: 500°C / Ø 140 mm x H 130 mm, 800°C / Ø 100 mm x H 130 mm
LAYER THICKNESS: Down to 10 μm
MAX SCAN SPEED: 4 m/s
LOCATION
Royce Discovery Centre, Harry Brearley Building, 5 Portobello Street, Sheffield, S1 4ND
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ARCAM Q10 PLUS
3D metal printing using high power electron beam technology.
USES/APPLICATIONS
The Arcam Q10plus is designed specifically for cost-efficient production of orthopaedic implants. The size of the build area is designed to allow for optimal stacking of the most common implant types, and the build chamber interior is developed for easy powder handling and fast turn-around times.
The Arcam Q10plus is particularly ideal for the production of high volume press-fit implants with advanced trabecular structures as well as one-off custom implants built with data derived from CT scans of individual patients.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Arcam Q10plus has the latest generation EB gun, which allows for higher productivity and improved resolution. It also includes Arcam LayerQamTM, a camera-based monitoring system for inline part quality verification.
The Q10plus has a maximum build size of 200 x 200 x 180 mm, making it ideal for the cost-effective production of orthopaedic implants, the development of materials, and the rapid prototyping of small components.
DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS
- Max build envelope: 200 x 200 x 180mm (W x D x H)
- Easy-to-use operator interface
- Offers a direct "CAD to MetalTM" process allowing production of patient-specific implants using data derived from Computed Tomography (CT). The CT data is used to create an exact CAD model of the desired implant. This CAD model is then used by the Arcam EBM machine to build the actual part.
- Latest generation EB gun
- Arcam xQamTM for high precision autocalibration
- Arcam LayerQamTM for build verification
- Efficient powder handling
- Software adapted to volume production
LOCATION
Royce Discovery Centre, Harry Brearley Building, 5 Portobello Street, Sheffield, S1 4ND
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ARCAM Q20 PLUS
3D metal printing using high power electron beam technology.
USES/APPLICATIONS
The Arcam Q20plus is specifically designed for cost-efficient production of aerospace components, such as turbine blades, structural airframe components and much more. The build envelope is impressive and allows for building large components and optimal stacking of smaller ones.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Arcam Q20plus has the latest generation of EB gun, which allows for higher productivity and improved resolution. It also includes Arcam LayerQamTM, a camera-based monitored system for inline part quality verification.
The larger Q20plus is developed for easy powder handling and fast turnaround times. With an extended build volume (350 x 380 (Ø/H)), it is ideal for larger parts such as aerospace components.
DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS
- Large build envelope: 350 x 380mm (Ø/H)
- Easy-to-use operator interface
- Latest generation EB gun
- Arcam xQamTM for high precision autocalibration
- Arcam LayerQamTM for build verification
- Efficient powder handling
- Software adapted to volume production
LOCATION
Royce Discovery Centre, Harry Brearley Building, 5 Portobello Street, Sheffield, S1 4ND
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BEAM MAGIC 800
Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
BeAM Magic 800 is a blown powder AM machine. Blown powder AM is commonly used by the aerospace sector to repair high-value components.
In this system, a deposition nozzle mounted on the Z-axis of a DED dedicated CNC (computer numerical control) machine is used. This allows continuous 5 axes of freedom to build/repair components layer-by-layer without the need for support structures. The DED process involves directing metallic powder into a laser beam. The powder converges at the focal point of the laser, creating a melt pool which is laid down in a 5-axis configuration.
The machine's capabilities include creating new alloys in situ so the properties of the deposited material can be changed during the build process. The build volume is 1200 x 800 x 800 mm.
DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS
- Build volume: 1200 x 800 x 800 mm
- 500 - 2000W fibre laser
- 10Vx/24Vx deposition heads
- Powder feeder with 5 hoppers of 1.5L
- Controlled atmosphere
- Touch probe
LOCATION
Quarrell Lab, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD
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DESKTOP METAL - STUDIO SYSTEMTM
The Studio System is a three-part solution that automates metal 3D printing. Tightly integrated through Desktop Metal's cloud-based software, it delivers a seamless workflow for printing complex metal parts in-house - from digital file to sintered part.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
From CAD file, layer-by-layer, a green part is shaped by extruding bound metal rods [metal powder held together by wax and polymer binders] in a process called Bound Metal DepositionTM or Material Extrusion.
The green part is then immersed in proprietary rebind fluid, dissolving primary binder, and creating an open-pore channel structure throughout the part in preparation for sintering. As the part is heated to temperatures near melting, remaining binder is removed, and metal particles fuse together causing the part to densify.
This is an exciting, office-friendly metal 3D printer with great capabilities, and a scalable design for increased throughput.
LOCATION
Royce Translational Centre, Sheffield Business Park, Europa Ave, Tinsley, Sheffield, S9 1ZA
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ENQUIRE HERE: royce@sheffield.ac.uk